maloney trophy time

It didn’t take Millsaps long to get in the swing of things with its bats. The Majors scored 20 runs in their first two games. But they went just 1-1 last Saturday in their own Millsaps Invitational. They allowed 19 runs and committed seven errors. So, there is obvious room for improvement when Millsaps takes on Belhaven today (4 p.m.) at Smith-Wills Stadium in the first game of the Maloney Trophy Series. The NCAA Division III Majors, coached by 24-year veteran Jim Page, went 28-16 in 2012. He says “doing the little things will be critical for this team.” Wes Perkins is capable of doing some big things; he batted .379 with seven home runs and 51 RBIs last year and is 4-for-8 to start this year. Stephen Gates, who hit .400 in 2012, is 6-for-10, and Keith Shumaker (.307 last year) is 4-for-9 with a homer and four RBIs. They’ll face a Belhaven pitching staff that has posted a 3.00 ERA through 10 games, and they’ll face it in a pitcher’s park. The NAIA Blazers are 6-4, averaging a not-too-shabby 5.2 runs per game. Bud Britt, a senior from Brookhaven via Copiah-Lincoln Community College, is batting .424 with a homer and 11 RBIs. Kyle Wheeler’s at .395, Jason Hicks .382 and Reagan Rutledge .333 (with nine steals). P.S. On this date in 1974, the incredible Cool Papa Bell was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The Starkville native was the fifth Negro Leagues player to earn that honor. Bell’s speed is the stuff of legend. He also batted a reported .341 over a 25-year pro career, all in black baseball during the days of segregation. He was the center fielder on three of the most-storied Negro League clubs: the St. Louis Stars, Pittsburgh Crawfords and Homestead Grays. … Former Mississippi State catcher Craig Tatum was released by the Miami Marlins on Tuesday, apparently due to physical issues. Tatum signed a minor league deal with Miami in the off-season.